I'm planning a special vacation to Italy and want to know the best lake to visit. Also, what are the nicest places to stay in the area (please include price range)? I'd also like to visit Siena. Can you recommend a good place to stay?

Scott, I know the area very well but will need to know more to answer well. <BR>WHEN? HOW LONG? WILL YOU HAVE A CAR?? <BR>BUDGET RANGE?? There are many good options in the Lakes, and given the time I would do 2 locations rather than <BR>only one---perhaps Orta and Bellagio. <BR>It all depends--tell us more.

I plan on going in early May and spending about 2 or 3 days in the lakes region before traveling to Venice. I don't know that I'll have a car...haven't worked the details out yet. Could you tell me how Bellagio and Orta differ?

Scott, The car decision will deide for <BR>you. You can easily train to Bellagio <BR>but not to Orta. Orta is more laid back, <BR>mystical, smaller, and quaint. Bellagio <BR>will be more crowded, up-scale, busy and <BR>expensive. Both are wonderful, just not <BR>the same. Go to www.orta.net for a <BR>good preview of my favorite place in <BR>Italy---a good choice for romantics.

It's possible to take the train to Orta, but it's not particularly easy. There's a branch line from Novara that stops at Orta San Giulio, but the station is pretty far from the town and the lake, especially if you have luggage. You can call for the little local taxi service or hope that some nice Italian will give you a ride. (I got a ride, but I don't think it hurt that I spoke pretty decent Italian at the time.) It's just a little countryside station, so don't expect a taxi stand or anything like that. There may be bus service from some city directly to Orta San Giulio proper -- I don't know. <BR> <BR>I loved Orta when I was there in October 1991. I don't know what it's like during high season or whether it's changed since then, but it does seem to be getting a lot more attention in guidebooks, so I wouldn't be surprised if it's gotten busier. I chose it largely for art-historical reasons (to see the Sacro Monte above Orta San Giulio), but if all you want is a nice lake and you have a short time and no car, you might well want to pick somewhere more easily accessible.

scott--I have been researching the lakes region for my next trip and the advice you are given here is, as always, right on. Train travel is possible but you will spend a lot of time getting there, taxis will not always be available and you may spend alot of your time waiting or on buses--during my last trip I used the trains (florence and rome) and found them, while not always timely, clean (immaculate compared to the trains I have traveled on in the Northeast) and the service good. However, the more I study the area, a car seems to be the best way to go (except for Venice)--have a wonderful trip--cheryl <BR> <BR>

Scott - <BR>We were in Stresa on Lake Maggiore in September this year. We had originally planned to stay on Como, but there was a lace festival at that time, and we couldn't book the hotel we wanted. We enjoyed the area so much, we didn't even visit the other lakes - we'll do that next time... <BR>We stayed at the Grand Hotel des Isles Borromees for about $300.00 a night. Wonderful!! If you want to see what the region is like, rent "A Farewell to Arms" with Jennifer Jones and Rock Hudson. A terrible movie, but great scenery. The hospital where they meet and fall in love is actually the Grand Hotel. It was one of Hemingway's favorites, and while I'm not a big fan of his, I will say he had great taste.

I read somewhere that Lake Orta is very polluted. Is this true? If so, are como and maggiore the same way?

While crossing Maggiore on a very busy ferry, I waited in line to use the toilet and was surprised to see that it was directly open to the lake below. It made me gasp everytime I saw people swimming in the lake --especially when you realize how many ferries cross the lake and how often they go. <BR>